Spittoon



R. J L S MITH.

SPITTooN.

(No MQdeL) Patrented Sept. 1, 1896.

f I in Anon/vers.

UNITED STATES" 4PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. SMITH, OF LOVELACEVILLE, KENTUCKY. I

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters' Patent No. 567,050, dated september 1,1896. Applicata mea May 23,1896. semina 592,743. (Nomade.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD J. SMITH, of Lovelaceville, in the county of Ballard and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spittoons, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to that class of spittoons which are secured in the iioor and provided with means for readily cleaning them.

The objects of my invention are to provide a spittoon which shall be convenient for use and application, which shall take up little or no room or offer any obstruction to free movement over the floor, and to provide a spittoon which shall be self-cleaning and positive-act- Ing.

The invention consists of a spittoon fitted in an opening in the floor and provided with connected top and bottom portions which are adapted to be alternately opened and closed.

It further consists in the features of construction of .the various parts and their novel combination or arrangement, as will be hereinafter fully explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view as in use. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the cover and cover-rest. Fig. 4 is a View .of a modified form.

In carrying out my invention I employ a spittoon-body A, which may be cylindrical or any other shape in cross-section and is preferably contracted at its central portion a, as shown, and made of metal or other material. The upper part of the body A is provided with a flange A', which may be integral or attached thereto by suitable means. This Ilan ge A' is beveled from its top to its bottom and rests on the floor F, around the opening in the same in which the spittoon-body is set, and facilitates the sweeping of trash or dirt into the spittoon. The body of the spittoon has a cover B, hinged to the flange A' at h, which hinge h is so arranged as to' be out of the way, and entirely closes the upper opening of the said spittoon-body. The cover is provided on its upper surface and near its outer edge farthest from the hinge with a knob or handle b for opening and closing the same. The under surface is provided with a ledge or projection L, which fits snugly in the upper opening of the body. If desired, this ledge or projection may have around its vertical face a packing-ring to make a close iit.

The lower opening or bottom of the body portion is provided with a swinging cover B', which is secured thereto by a hinge or other suitable means, said bottom cover being connected withfthe under surface of the top cover B by a chain or other suitable flexible connection O, which allows top cover B to be thrown completely back and down on the iioor.

The length of the chain C is such that when the top cover is raised and thrown back to its full extent the bottom cover completely covers the lower open end of the body of the spittoon, the lower edges of the body being inwardly beveled and the edges of the bottom cover being similarly beveled to make a close fit. The beveled edges of the body or bottom cover may be provided with an elastic packing to insure an air-tight joint.

Situated in the rear of the hinge 7L is a top rest D, secured to the floor and having near its edge farthest from said hinge the depression or socket CZ. The purpose of the socket d is to receive and hold the knob orhandle b when the top cover B is opened.

The edges of the top rest D are beveled from its top surface to where it meets the floor, so that it will offer no resistance to the foot should it strike it. The knob b on the cover B may bulge slightly near the top, and the socket CZ may have secured in it an elastic ring CZ', which will hold the knob b therein with a slight pressure. The beveled iiange A' is secured to the iioor by screws or other suitable means, the purpose of the bevel being to furnish a guide for the foot when it is desired to open the top cover. If desired, the device may be set in a depression made in the floor, the depression being of a size V suitable to receive the top cover when in an open position, and the socket CZ may be made in this depression, as-shown in Fig. 4, By seating the entire device in a depression the apparatus offers no obstruction to travel over the same.

The operation of my device is as follows: When it is desired to use the spittoon, the

cover is raised and thrown back until it rests on or in the top rest D. The chain C, connecting the top and bottom covers, will raise l[he bottom cover and close the bottom opening, forming a tight-bottomed receptacle from which all air is excluded. WVhen it is desired to empty the spittoon, the top cover is released from its position on or in the top rest D by the foot, the bevel on the edge of the top rest guiding the foot up until it strikes the edge of the top cover. When the top cover isclosed, the bottom cover swings downward by its own weight and the weight of the contents of the spittoon, and the contents are discharged through the bottom opening, thus making the device a self-cleaning apparatus and doing away with the troublesome and dirty operations of emptying and washing the spittoon, such as is necessary with the spittoon in common use.

My improved spittoon may be used on railroad and street cars, boats, in offices, and in fact anywhere that spit-toons are susceptible of use.

By having the central portion of the body contracted the full pressure of the contents is not put on the bottom cover when it is closed, and hence lessens the liability of the said bottom cover to exert a pull on the chain and accidentally close the top cover.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A spittoon comprising a body portion open at each end, covers pivotally connected to said ends and a flexible connection between said covers to allow the top cover to be thrown back on the ioor, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with a spittoon having a flange at its upper end adapted to be seated around a floor-opening, covers pivotally connected to each end ofthe body and exibly connected to each other, and a top-cover rest in or on the iioor, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of a spittoon having a body portion open at each end and provided with a beveled ange at its upper end, a cover hinged to the upper end of said body and `having a knob on its upper surface of the top-cover rest in or on the floor and having a socket in its upper surface to receive the knob on said top cover, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of a spittoon having a body portion open at each end, covers pivotally connected to each end and flexibly connected to each other, the top cover having a knob thereon, of a top-cover rest having beveled edges and provided with a socket adapted to receive and retain the knob of said top cover with a slight pressure, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination with a spittoon havin g a body portion open at each end the upper end having a beveled flange and the body portion being contracted at its central portion, covers pivotally connected to each end, said covers having elastic packing-rings, and iiexibly connected to each other, the top cover having a knob on its upper surface, of a topcover rest having beveled edges and provided on its upper surface with a socket containing an elastic ring adapted to receive and retain the knob of the top cover, with a slight pres sure, substantially as shown and described.

RICHARD J. SMITH. W'itnesses:

NV. L. TURNER, R. P. STREETY. 

